Interview scorecard template

Disability Support Worker interview scorecard

Evaluate Disability Support Worker candidates across 4 weighted areas: clinical competence, patient safety and protocol, patient communication, and working in a clinical team. Clinical competence leads at 35%, so check the support needs they have worked with, any personal care or manual handling training, and current clearances. Use the rubric to compare role-specific evidence consistently.

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TL;DR
For clinical competence, look for evidence the candidate real experience across the support needs you serve, with current clearances and manual handling training. For patient safety and protocol, look for evidence the candidate follows medication and incident protocol exactly, and reports safeguarding concerns through the right channel immediately. Apply the written 1–5 anchors to every answer, record the evidence behind each rating, and use the factor weights to reach a consistent overall assessment.
Complete evaluation framework

What to assess and how to score it

Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.

01
Evaluation factor

Clinical competence

35% weight

Check the support needs they have worked with, any personal care or manual handling training, and current clearances.

Evidence to listen for

  • Command of the procedures, anatomy, and equipment the role requires
  • Holds current registration or certification
  • Knows normal from abnormal and what to do about each
  • Recognises when a case is outside their scope

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Unsafe knowledge gaps; registration missing or lapsed.

2
Needs Improvement

Knowledge gaps that would affect patient care.

3
Satisfactory

Competent for standard cases; needs support on complex ones.

4
Very Good

Strong clinical knowledge; safe and reliable across the usual range.

5
Excellent

Real experience across the support needs you serve, with current clearances and manual handling training.

02
Evaluation factor

Patient safety and protocol

30% weight

Test safeguarding awareness, medication protocol, and what they do on noticing a possible sign of abuse or neglect.

Evidence to listen for

  • Follows identification, infection control, and documentation protocol without prompting
  • Can describe an error or near miss and what they did
  • Escalates deterioration early
  • Treats protocol as protection rather than bureaucracy

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Casual about protocol; would not report an error.

2
Needs Improvement

Inconsistent protocol adherence; slow to escalate.

3
Satisfactory

Follows protocol reliably; documentation sometimes thin.

4
Very Good

Protocol is instinctive; escalates early and reports honestly.

5
Excellent

Follows medication and incident protocol exactly, and reports safeguarding concerns through the right channel immediately.

03
Evaluation factor

Patient communication

20% weight

Assess how they support someone's independence and dignity rather than doing everything for them.

Evidence to listen for

  • Explains a procedure to an anxious or confused patient
  • Handles distress, pain, or refusal without losing control of the interaction
  • Respects privacy and dignity in practice, not just in principle
  • Works with families and carers

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Dismissive of patients; no bedside awareness.

2
Needs Improvement

Task-focused; struggles with distressed patients.

3
Satisfactory

Adequate rapport; less confident in difficult interactions.

4
Very Good

Calm, clear, and respectful with anxious or difficult patients.

5
Excellent

Supports independence and choice rather than efficiency, and adapts communication to how each person communicates.

04
Evaluation factor

Working in a clinical team

15% weight

Judge handover quality, documentation, and how they raise a concern about a colleague's practice.

Evidence to listen for

  • Hands over cleanly and completely
  • Challenges a colleague when patient safety requires it
  • Takes direction from clinicians without deferring blindly
  • Handles shift work and pressure without becoming difficult to work with

Five-point scoring guide

1
Poor

Poor handover; cannot work in a clinical team.

2
Needs Improvement

Handover gaps; avoids raising concerns about colleagues.

3
Satisfactory

Reliable team member; handover adequate.

4
Very Good

Clean handovers and willing to speak up on safety.

5
Excellent

Documents and hands over completely, and will raise concerns about a colleague when a client's welfare requires it.

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